slow transfer across network

[cyberguyd]

I have installed two nics in a pc and have connected one to my dsl and the other to my network. I have connected another pc to the network hub. I have succssfully setup internet connection sharing. I can see shared folders accross the network. However, when I attempt to transfer files it takes forever and I get intermittent messages telling me the network cable is unplugged. Thanks in advance

 

[chewie1012]

Is there a great distance between the pc's? I had run some cable one time and had a connection but the distance was so long the signal was weak. I cut ten or fifteen feet off and was able to connect ok. Or should I say downloading speeds went from regular modem speed to much faster.

 

[cyberguyd]

I am using only about a 10 ft cable.

 

[chewie1012]

Well I don't know much about this networking stuff. I have a home network and am doing a little 'light networking" as a side job. Do you have two nic's in one pc?

 

[NetEngineer]

When you transferring the files are you using mapped drives or just browsing through network neighborhood....? You'll defintely want to map a drive or drives to keep that persistent mapping going.

 

[chewie1012]

what does mapping a drive do and how does it work?

 

[cyberguyd]

A little update on the conditions:

Connecting to the internet on the client computer results in an extremely slow download or web content, mail, etc. File transfer across the network is slow.

PC running ICS is:

- P4 2 gig running XP
- 2 NICs are installed, both are 10/100 nics, Linksys
- One nic connects to DSL line - functioning perfectly
- the other connects to my 10 mbit hub

Client PC is:

- AMD 450 runnning XP
- one 10 mbit Realtek NIC
- Internet is slow


File transfer between the two PCs is very slow. I have mapped drives as suggested by NetEngineer to no avail. In the system tray on the P4 ICS server, the connection icon appears for local connection 2 (my local ethernet) and says "a network cable is unplugged". It appears regularly (every 30 secs to 1 min) and then disappears. I have reset up the connections, swapped cables etc, no change.

Any other info would be great. Thanks.

 

[JohnWill]

The fact that you see the cable unplugged message is strongly suggesting you have a cable or NIC hardware issue. I'd start by closely checking the cable. It's very common for a poor connection in the cable to cause the symptoms you describe. You might start a large transfer and then press the cable close to the connections to the sides and see if some tension forces it to make a connection and helps with the problem. I believe you'll find your problem has nothing to do with software.

 

[cyberguyd]

Thanks for all the help guys. I was beginning to lean towards a hardware issue last night and just replaced the 10 mbit nic and hub with new 10/100 equipment. The 10 mbit stuff was easily 5 years old and sounds like was suspect as well as maybe issues with 10/100 and 10 mbit only compatibility.

 

[JohnWill]

And I assume that all is working well now?

 

[cyberguyd]

Yes it is all fixed. Most appreciative to Johnwill, your comments pretty much confirmed my thoughts after I had slept on it that the equipment was faulty or incompatible.